Been there!


I know that feeling for sure. Side in hover, sure of what your doing then all of a sudden you lose the precious orientation and all bets are off. I quickly adopted something I learned from my dirt biking days, which was the "When in doubt, GAS IT" rule. I lost my orientation in a low side ways hover, went the wrong way got confused and it was sliding off sideways toward the ground and all I could think of was to grap a hand full of collective. That popped me up about 8 feet and bought me precious time that I needed to get the tail back towards me. Not gonna recommend that for everyone but it worked for me. Once a dirt biker, always a dirt biker........

Fatigue is a very very real thing when it comes to flying. Helicopters are a far greater mental drain than airplanes. My last crash was caused by severe mental fatigue caused by flying all morning at one field then going to a second field and flying all afternoon. My flying skills were heading down hill but my heli was flying so well that I didnt want to stop. Lost orientation and fluttered to the ground like a duck hit by a load of steel shot! In this game you really have to know when to say when!

BUT...........a good save is a good save no matter what, and you went home in one piece with pockets full of extra knowledge and a few more tricks to put in that bag of tricks we all keep on our belts for just such an occasion.

Besides, you now know that your fellow flying buddies have good reflexes and can get out of the way when you start those wicked 3D moves!

Well done my friend,

Tony.........Still in Dallas TX....